Aubrey Logan Benefit Concert

The place was the Center Club Costa Mesa and the date was February 12. The event was “They Said It Was Impossible…” a live concert by the indescribable, uniquely talented Aubrey Logan benefiting Ryan’s Reach. So what was so “impossible” you may ask?

The answer is twofold. For Ryan’s Reach, a non-profit based in Coto de Caza that supports traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, it was the task of opening a group home for TBI. The home is called Ryan’s Reach R&R which stands for “Residence and Respite”.

It seems logical that homes for survivors of brain injury would already exist but that’s not the case, not in Orange County. You have to travel as far as San Diego or Ventura to find anything resembling a residential home for younger brain injury survivors to share. When the family is unable to bring the loved one home to live and be cared for, there are precious few options. Nursing homes have been the only solution - until now.

Ryan’s Reach has been working for 2 ½ years to make the dream of a group home for TBI survivors come true. December 18, 2016 the doors of the R&R home opened and welcomed Nathan, Daniel and Rebecca. Figuring out how to do this has been a daunting task and some might have thought “impossible”. But the home is open in Tustin, CA and offers 4 beds to full-time residents and 2 beds for short stays, respite care for families who just need a break to“come up for air”. A fourth resident will be placed soon and respite care started shortly after that.

Aubrey Logan is a dynamo of a performer and offered to do a benefit for Ryan’s Reach to also celebrate the release of her first CD. The title cut of the cd is “Impossible”. The song is an inspiring lyric that highlights when something looks impossible, then you must be on to something. We sensed a theme and thus the title of the evening. Aubrey’s roots are firmly planted in jazz and as a singer of jazz she is a phenom, no other way to describe her. She is an old soul but a young woman who loves all types of music and blends jazz with contemporary hits and various genres. On top of it she plays trombone and simply is gifted as an all-around entertainer. She sent everyone home as an Aubrey Logan fan.

This event was a celebration and so in attendance were many long-time supporters of Ryan’s Reach, which has been doing fundraisers in the Coto de Caza/Dove Canyon areas for 13 years now. This was a fundraiser and a “friend-raiser” to thank many who donate regularly to the efforts of providing ongoing therapy to TBI survivors but also to expose the new group home, the residents and the need for such a home. This home proves an idea, that when TBI survivors who are young can live together they will make more progress and recovery than when they live in a nursing home for the elderly. The vision is that this will be only the first of many.

Ryan’s Reach is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization honoring the name of Ryan Corbin (Pat Boone’s grandson) who suffered a severe TBI, having survived a fall. Ryan’s recovery has been a miracle and encouragement for others. Although Ryan personally is financially secure, his entry into the world of TBI brought forth attention to the fact that most families are not as fortunate and a TBI wreaks havoc not only on their finances but on their loved one’s ability to recover.

Funds raised assist in providing both rehabilitation and home care, including respite relief. Much of the proceeds are directed to High Hopes Head Injury program, itself a 501(c)(3), that provides daily rehabilitation services to the TBI community. Other funds are directed to the operation of Ryan’s Reach R&R, a licensed Tustin home ready to provide care for the TBI community